2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008
/Hangul2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008
by: Dr. Tom Richards
The Korea Stamp Society was founded in 1951 by a small group of Americans who desired to share their mutual interest in Korean philately. A number of them had visited or served in Korea in various civilian or governmental capacities. While there, they acquired an interest in the colorful and often elusive stamps of the country.
( More about the Society) (History of the Society)
Dec. 2007
I am writing this to you on Christmas Day, 2007—our first back in our Virginia house. My daughter didn’t get her wish for a White Christmas, but tomorrow I will take her to her grandmother’s house in Boulder, Colorado, where it has been snowing like crazy.
"Korean Philately"
When Dr. Gary N. McLean assumed the editorialship of Korean Philately, beginning with the first issue of 1995, he established the concept of an annual front-cover
design. Therefore, the only cover-data that changes with each issue during the year, is the publication date, and the index-box showing the contents of each quarterly publication. (KSS's Korean Philately Archives:1995-2005)
(Cover:
(2007)
(2006)
(2005)
(2004)
(2003)
(2002)
(2001)
(2000)
(1999)
(1998)
(1997)
(1996)
(1995)
(Index:
(2007)
(2006)
(2005)
(2004)
(2003)
(2002)
(2001)
(2000)
(1999)
(1998)
(1997)
(1996)
(1995)
EDITOR E-MAIL: mclea002@maroon.tc.umn.edu
February 2007
Well, here we are at the end of 2007. When the year began, I was fully resolved at being caught up by tht end of the year. Obviously, I haven’t made it. With this new job and the incredible amount of traveling involved, I am still behind. This issue will be to the publisher’s before Christmas, and I hope to have May, 2007 to the publisher by the New Year. That will still leave me two issues behind, and I can t get those done without more material. Please authors, send me your material so I can really hope to get caught up.
John E. Talmage Jr., Sec/Treas.,
For those thinking about Society membership.
KSS members business sites and addresses.
2007-Dues Letter
See the Dues Letter.
William Collyer, Librarian,
February 2003
William Collyer has submitted his resignation as Society Librarian. Bill will be remembered for his success in moving our library to the WPL. Thanks, Bill, for all of your efforts on our behalf. Elsewhere in this Issue a “Call for Applications” for a new Librarian. Will you step to the plate?
Donations:
Deepest appreciation is extended to Mr. Kim Jae-seung of Pusan for his contribution of the publicity videotape for PHILAKOREA 2002 and a CD-rom of the stamps of Korea up to 1995. These will be available for loan from the WPL. (Unfortunately for those of us who are Korean illiterate, both are in Korean only.)
(December, 2007)
Jan. 11-13, 2008
Charlotte Convention Center
501 South College St.
Charlotte, North Carolina 28232
(May, 2008)
June 6-8, 2008
Hilton McLean Tysons Corner
7920 Jones Branch Drive,
McLean, Virginia
August 14-17, 2008
Connecticut Convention Center,
Hartford, Connecticut.
(May 2008)
August 29 -31, 2008
Mariott's Hunt Valley Inn
Hunt Valley (North of Baltimore), Maryland
(Mar., 2007)
October 12-14, 2007
Radisson Los Angeles Airport Hotel
6225 West Century Boulevard, Los Angeles, California
AUGUST, 2003
KSS Gatherings: The highlight of the year in terms of our society was achieving my goal of finally getting to meet our indefatigable web page manager, Harold Penn, at the KSS meeting at APS Stampshow 2003 which was held in Columbus, Ohio from August 7 to 10. Due to my schedule, I was forced to move the meeting from its original time on Saturday to Thursday. I was only able to inform Harry of the change, so despite several announcements over the pubic address system that our meeting time had changed, Harry and his wife were the only ones to come to the meeting! This year’s meeting was characterized by quality over quantity of members attending! I changed my presentation topic to "Collecting Classic Korean Cancels." Please let me know if you would like a copy of my handout. It contains some of the highlights from my collection. I was able to congratulate Janet Klug on her election as APS president and compliment APS Executive Director Brian Lamb for all of his hard work for the society over the years. I also took an informative exhibit tour with the APS’s Ken Martin. Someday I will exhibit! It’s too bad the last issue of KP did not arrive before the show, at least one other member informed me later that he had hoped to attend the meeting. I ultimately decided not to hold a meeting at NAPEX `03 (in Northern Virginia) in June.
(LAND/PEOPLE I:) Chronological Table: History of Korea
(PHILATELIC I:) OLD KOREA/CHOSON:
In ancient times signal fires arranged in more or less concentric circles around the capital were the only official communication means to the far reaches of the Kingdom. These were still in use for special occasions in the 1930’s. By 1587 a “pony express” courier system was in use; their brass medallion passes (Ma Pae) designating rank of the rider and the number of horses the bearer could requisition are highly prized today. A central control station was established about a century later.
by: Michael Rogers
The Korean monarchy’s sole commemorative stamp was issued in 1902. It is a fascinating stamp to study. The orange stamp, shown in Figure 1, is the 3-cheun Emperor’s Crown, Korea Scott 34, It was issued to honor the 40th year of the reign of Emperor Kojong.
Figure 1.
(NORTH KOREA-DPRK): (CIA's "Fact Book")
(PHILATELIC II:) NORTH KOREA:
Translated by: Prof. P. Kevin MacKeown
Subsequent (N.) Korean stamp issues can be divided into three periods:
1. 1946 to 1953, the early post-liberation and Korean War period. Stamps of this period primarily feature political themes, with design and printing of a simple nature; reprints of the majority of these were issued in 1957.
2. 1954 to 1975, the scope of the issues became larger—scenery, flora and fauna, sports, folk customs, etc., still with strong political overtones.
3. 1976 to date, the scope of the topical material is much broader, and international themes play a relatively important role, printing is finer, and colors more beautiful. A particular feature of the stamps of this period is the occurrence, in addition to Korean text, of the English designation, “DPR KOREA.”
by: Michael Rogers
As printed in LINN's STAMP NEWS, February 21, 2000 :
In the early 1990s, North Vietnamese stamps became available to stamp collectors in the United States. The Scott Publishing Co. provided listings in its catalog, along with valuations and illustrations. Material from Vietnam and Europe rapidly inundated the U.S. market. Even the scarcest stamps became easy to obtain.
Collecting North Korean stamps is far more challenging. Not as much is known about North Korean stamps. The major overseas catalogs do not agree in their listings, and few dealers enjoy a comprehensive inventory. Although the 1946-52 stamp issues endured the Korean War, many stamps were destroyed and data is incomplete.
Reviewed by Ted Hallock
and
Jayson Hyun
D.P.R.K (North Korea) 1946-l957 plate identified: A handbook
Author: Dr. Taizo Maeda
Determining differences between North Korea’s original issues circa 1946 to 1956 and its officially issued reprints (or some prefer “new printings”) has never been simple. But unlike the P. R. China reprints, NK’s are usually identifiable, but often only when you have both the original (0) and the reprint (R).
by: J. Kevin MacKeown
These "official imitations", commonly referred to as reprints, are among the earliest and often despised, acquaintances of any collector of North Korea, and much is known about them. Maeda's (2000) monograph is an invaluable guide in this respect. Their status in the catalogues, however, is marginal. Gibbons mentions only that they could be, and have been, used for postage, but as that was not their primary purpose, we do not list them.
TO: F.L. Korean (my pen-name), A few years ago, I received a bundle of North Korean stamps from relatives. I am not an expert on
stamps, but I have tried to find out if these stamps carry any value, other than the emotional value.
Unfortunately, my searching didn't provide me with any answers. I've flipped through many books and have
scoured the internet, but all to no avail. As luck would have it, I stumbled upon your page a little while
ago, where I found this e-mail address. I hope you don't mind me asking this of you, but as experts on the
matter, could you help me determine the value of my stamps? I have attached the pictures to this e-mail
in .zip format. Windows XP and/or Windows Vista should have no problem opening it. There is one thing I
would like to mention. If you were to carefully examine photo B, you would find that the date on the stamp
and the rubber stamp itself do not match. On the stamp there's the year 1948, but the rubber stamp seems
to be from 1946. I found this rather peculiar. I really do hope you can help me. With kindest regards,
Monday, November 26, 2007.
(SOUTH KOREA-ROK): (CIA's "Fact Book")
(PHILATELIC III:) SOUTH KOREA:
Five months after U. S. troops landed in the Southern part of the Korean peninsula, in September 1945, six overprinted/surcharged Japanese stamps were temporarily placed in use on February 1, 1946. This was under the direction of the U. S. Military Government.
Five months later, on June 30, 1946, the six overprinted/surcharged Japanese stamps were withdrawn from use; having been replaced by the Korean designed, but Japanese printed, six stamp "Liberation from Japanese Rule" set, which were issued May 1, 1946.
See the Overprinted Japanese Stamps
See the "Liberation from Japanese Rule" set
THE KOREAN WAR (1950-1953):
SEOUL, South Korea - Half a century has passed since a 17-year old Joseph F. Shearer fought a war in a country he had never heard of before. Still, it was tough coming back to Korea this week.
(Article on the KOREAN WAR (1950-1953))
(In French)
By: J.L.Emmenegger
The author's biography
The following two files are in "PDF" format; so you need to have "ACROBAT READER" installed to view them:
Go here to download a FREE copy
J.L.Emmenegger's 2nd edition
(NORTH KOREA-DPRK):
(SOUTH KOREA-ROK):
Beginning in 1995, South Korea's Philatelic Issuing Authority
became entitled "Ministry of Information and Communications", due to a late 1994 reorganization that caused a name change from the previous "Ministry of Communications". As its name implies, "The Ministry (MIC)" is responsible for research, developement, and management/oversight of missions ranging from the Ultra-High-Tech, to the mostly Terra-Firma
operations of "The Bureau of Posts".
At least since 1996, MIC has been broadcasting Stamp information over the InterNet,
in both the Hangul (Korean) and English languages. During this period the earliest stamp information available has remained constant, with the Issuance of 1994 being displayed.
Beginning with the 1997 issuance broadcast, the previous stamp picture-only display was
expanded to include stamp topic description. Finally, in late 1998 stamp characteristical
information was added below the topic description.
O/A April 1, 2001, MIC's WebSite was revamped. Gone was any mention of Stamps, or the previously present Postal Administration Section. After surfing the Web, for a month, it is apparent that the only English info on Korean Stamps being broadcast out of Korea, is on The Postal Museum's WebSite.
Also O/A April 1, 2001, I became aware of a hyper-link on MIC's WebSite directing users to a "Korean Post" WebSite which contained Korean Stamp Information; but, only in Hangul/Korean.
O/A August 1, 2001, the Korean Post WebSite turned-on an English-side to their broadcast, which also included English stamp information.
O/A July 31, 2005, the Korean Post Website (both Korean & English), put-up re-designed Websites.
O/A Nov. 2005, the Postmuseum web-site stopped broadcasting in conjuction with the moving of the
Museum to a new site. When it came back-up, in late 2006, it had been redesigned; NO MORE KOREAN
STAMPS.
O/A Nov. 1, 2007, the Korean Post Website (both Korean & English), put-up re-designed Websites.
/Hangul
Korean Post-Korean-side 2008 Stamp Issuance Schedule)Mid-2007, I ran accross a web-site called "The Korean Portal System". I beleive it to be operated by the Korean Philatelic Center:
/Hangul
Korean Portal System-Korean-side
/English
Korean Portal System-English-side
WEBZINE for Korean Stamp Review
2002-KPC
2007-KPC
2008-KPC
2007-DPR-KSC
Eckert-Harvard McCann-Harvard Beck-KSS-USA
(Old Korea/North Korea/South Korean Philatelic Issues)
(First-Day Covers)
(Stamp Information Cards)